Can feeding apparatus



Feb.-4, 1936. w CHALMERS I 2,029,558

' 'CAN FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 eooooo I Feb. 4, 1936. s. w. CHALMERS 2,029,558 I CAN FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 b- 4,1936- G. w. CHALMERS' 58 CAN FEEDING" APPARATUS "4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 4, 1936. G w ALME 2,029,558

CAN FEEDING APPARATUS Fiied April 10, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Janis;

-structicn. In the drawings: v

Patented Feb. 4 .1936

PATENT OFFICE 2,029,558 can rannmc mmrus George w. Chalmers. Summit, 111., assignmto International Patents Development Company,

11, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application April n, 1933, Serial No. 665,392

18 Claims. .(01. 113-115)- This invention relatesto an apparatus for feeding cans, can bodies or other receptacles to a machine for performing some operation thereon; speciflcally,-in the case of the apparatus herein shown and described for feeding cans toamachine for securing to the heads. of the cans, caps to close filling openings in such heads. That is 1 to say, the cans are filled through circular openings surrounded by upstanding flanges, caps are placed oversaid openings and the cans are then transferred to a machine for seaming. or crimping the caps to the flanges so as to effect permanent.

sealed closures. This inventionrelates to apparatus for making this transfer. e Obviously the can feeding apparatus with which this inventionis exclusively concerned, is

'not limited tothe use of the apparatus in cona can where conditions exist similar to those involved in the above mentioned operation.

v The object of the invention is to provide a simple, relatively inexpensive apparatus which shall be positive and efllcient in its operation, for feeding cans to andfrom a. crimping machine, or to-and from other similar machines into or under which the cans in each case must remain stationary for a certain period while thecrimping or other operation is performed. 1 I

'Asubordinate object of the invention is to provide a single feeding apparatus with duplicated feeding or forwarding devices whereby the cans tnay be fed from-a. single supply conveyor to two Jcrimping or more machines, and from these machines to a single receiving conveyor, or other place of deposit.

' A preferred embodiment of the apparatus is' shown in the accompanying drawings, in connecticn with two crimping machines of known con i Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus showing both feeding devices in full but onlyone of the crimping machines; the crimping machine for the lower position on the drawings being shown only fragmentarily for better illustration of the feeding arrangements.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on Fig.1. r

Fig. '3 is a. verticalsectional view on line of Fig. {a I Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5-,-5 of Fig. 1.

line 2-4 of Fig. 6 is afragmentary plan view of the parts I of the feeding apparatus adjacent one of the crimping machine's.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reciprocating structure and its associated mecha 5 nism whereby cans are fed to and from one of the crimping devices; and I Fig. 8 is a sectional plan on line 8 -8 of Fig. 5.

It will simplify the understanding of the apparatus to briefly summarize its general structure 10 and the several operations performed by' the feeding apparatus before attempting to give a detailed description of the apparatus as illustrated in the drawings. a

I The two crimping machines .A, A are arranged face to face at any suitable distance apart. Two"; parallel conveyors are provided, on opposite sides of the crimping machines, a supply conveyor I9 which brings up-the cans to be fed to the crimping machines and a receiving conveyor 25 to convey the cans away from said machines. In con- 7 nection with each ofthe crimping machines there versely arranged in conformity with the reversed arran'gementof the crimping machines) These two reciprocating structures are moved in unison to and from'the crimping machine. .A runway H, II is provided extending from the supply conveyor to the discharging conveyor. The runway is formed with an offset which is arranged to position the cans successively underthe crimping machine. I'hat is, the feedinge-in sectionbf the runway is aligned with the operating head of the crimping machine. of the runway is offset from this line providing a corner in which the cans are successively positioned while being operated'upon by the crimping machine. g

The reciprocating structure, which may be rep- 40 resented by the numerals .29, 29 performs the following functions: (1) It pushes each can, afterthe cap has been crimped to the head, from the corner between the oflset portions of the runthem from passing the feeding-in runway. until The feeding-out section 35 2 the time has arrived for pushing another can into the runway; the conveyor, which runs continuously, sliding, at such times, under the arwhich, functioning alternately with the stop just described, holds back a can which-has passed the feeding-in runway of the first machine and. is

destined for the second machine, so as to position the nextsucceeding can in front of the feeding-in-runway of. the first machine until such' can'be pushed'into the runway, whereupon the stop is withdrawn, releasing the can in which the stop was in contact so as'to allow this can to .be carried by the supply conveyor to the" feeding mechanism for the second machine, That is, when the stops permit the supply conveyor to I forward the cans, two cans are forwarded, one

l of which moves past the feeding-in runway of the first machine, but is held just beyond such runway .so as to position the next can in alignment with said feeding-in runway. The first men-t tioned of thetwo cans goes to the second ma-.

chine, the second cangoes to the first machine. This same principle obviously could be applied;

4 to a feeding apparatus adapted forlthree or more crimping or other machines. .In the two machine arrangement shown the cans destined for the second machine are arrested by a fixed stop .with the forward can in alignment with the feed Fig. 1 is designated A. The other machine, in

ing-in rimway of such second machine.

' To give new a more detailed description of the entire-apparatus shown in the drawings: -.The crimping machine at the upper end of the lower part of the figure, is indicated frag,- mentarily at A. It will be unnecessary to describethe crimping machine further than to say that it has a spindlaB provided with a crimping head C. The spindle is movable vertically, as

. well as being revoluble, so. that it can be brought down to and raised away from the cans successively positioned thereunder, the spindle rotating when the spindle is in the lower position These movements are controlled by alink mechanism D. g

In the drawings the' cans are indicated by the letter E with exponents to indicate special positions. v

' Altable I0 is anged und er the. spindle B of the :cr-imping mac ne and a' runway for the cans 'of sections ofthe runway, one from the other,:

is formed on the table by means of guide rails H and 'I2 whichare formed with angular bends l3 and I4 (Fig. 6) so as to offset the two ends ."forming a feeding-in section l5 and a feedingout section It, joined by a wider section II in' line with the spindle of the crimping machine.

Preferably the feeding-out section It is provided with a topguard member [8 the end of which stands over the can being operatediupon soasto free the can from the crimping head if necessary, During the crimpingoperation the being operated upon will bear against the transverse portion l3 of the guard rail ll.

f The cans are brought up to the runway by a conveyor consisting of acontinuously running chain IS on a supporting structure 20 provided of the conveyor.

with guard rails 2|, 22, 23, 24 for guiding the cans.

' At the other side/ of the apparatus is arranged, preferably, a receiving conveyor consisting of a belt 25 running on a suitable support 26. Guide rails 21, 28 may be provided at opposite sides The belt 25 runs continuously.

The devices for efiecting the movement of the .cans through the run-way are carried upon or actuated by a reciprocating structure which i arranged under and moves irrparallelisni with the runway. This structure comprises a pair of rods 29, 29 slidably mounted in guides in a bracket 30 .s'ecured to the supporting structure 20 of the supply conveyor, the outer ends of which rods are unitedby a cross-head and the inner ends secured to a cross beam 32 (Fig.3). Pivoted to the cross-head 3| is a 'pitnian 33to which is pivoted a rock-arm 34 (Fig. 5) fulcrumed at 35 on a stationary part 36 of the'apparatus and carrying at-its lower end a roller 31 to bear on a cam 38 on a shaft 39 driven bya link belt 40 I from thedriving shaft 4| of the apparatus. A coiled tension spring 42 is engaged between the upper endof the rock arm 34 and a support 43 downwardly projecting from the structure 20. The upper end of the rock arm 34 is pivoted to 'a block 44 which is slidable on the pitman, for

adjustment, and'secured thereto by set screw 45.

The cam 38. is shaped as shown so that the reciprocating structure will have rapid forward and backward movements with a dwell between such movements. This dwell gives'additional time for performance of the crimping operation which ,must take place, of course, while the can is operated upon and is stationary.

' The mechanisms associated with and actuated by the reciprocating structure just described are the following:

The transverse pusher arranged in line with the widened part ll of the runway (Fig. ,6) is a slideway 45 in which isarran'ged' aslide 41 (see also Fig. 4) v which pushes against the can and also carries an upright post 48 provided with a horizontally arranged can pusher 49. Pivoted at 50 to the slide is a 'rock arm 5| fulcrumed at 52 on the table ill, the other end 53 of which is provided with a stud 54. A coiled spring 55 attached to the v rock-arm 5l tends to retract the slide 41- andcan pusher 49, that is tends to move the slide and pusher away from the can; Stud 54 on the other end of the rock-arm is engaged by a follower block 56 on a rod 51, one end of which is mounted in a guide 58 on the table and the other end of which is secured to an upwardly extending arm 59 on the, cross piece 32 (Figs. 3 and 'l) of the reciprocating structure. In Figs. 1,- 6 and '7 the parts of the mechanism are in the positions which they have assumed in pushing the can E which was at; the end of the feeding-in runway section l5 and against the stop l3, to its position in align ment with the cans, in the feeding-out section l6 ofjtherunway. The rearward movement of the reciprocating structure" has brought about this movement .of pusher 49 through engagement of block 56 with stud 54. When the reciprocating structure moves forwardly spring 55 retracts the slide 41 and pusher 49 so as to make place under 62.. The cross-head is formed with a curved arm 53 terminating in a vertical plate 54 which normally stands to the right of conveyor i 9 in alignment'with the feeding-in section |5..of. the runway, as shown in Fig. 1. With the forward movement of the reciprocating structure this pusher 63, 64 is brought to bear againstthe can 1!: on

conveyor l9 inline with the runway. During this portion of the forward movement, the block way, pushing ahead of it the line of cans in the runway so as to bring can E under the spindle 'of the crimping machine.

The pusher 53-64 is provided with a skirt mstop plate 55, at right angles to plate 64 which acts as a stop to prevent the continued forward movement 'of the cans approaching-the runway on conveyor i9 during time that the pusher is in contact with can E During this period the can E? (Fig. 1) will bear against the/stop plate 55, the

' conveyor sliding under this can and any other cans that may be stopped in their forward movement. I

v A stop is also provided to prevent the can E from moving out of its position in alignment with "the feeding-in runway; and where, as in the installation illustrated, the conveyor I9 is intended tof'supply .cans to two crimping machines, the

. arrestingof the can E 'is brought about by stopping the movement of the can E ahead of it, as shown in Fig, 1. That is, when released by the stop plate 65 two cans are allowed to move forv ward, the can E? to a position beyond the runway and the can E to a position in alignment with the runway. The movement of these two cans is arrested by a horizontal stop rod which is secured to an angular support 51 on the cross piece 32 of the reciprocating structure, this support extending through a slot 55 in the table. A

' similar slot 59 is provided for the arm 59 on the other side of cross piece 32.

; its the-reciprocating structure is given itsforward movement stop'55 is withdrawn from can and two other cans E and E (Fig. 1) are advanced by the conveyor as soon as can E has-been released by the stop plate 85.

The pusher for the cans in the feeding-out -runway.'-These cams are moved longitudinally through the runway by the pusher 53, 64 through the movement of. the cans in the feeding-in runway; but it is also desirable to provide a positive pushing device for moving the cans in the feedin'g-out runway section which will operate against the cans along the center line of their travel. To

this end the support tl is formed with a hen-- zontally extending portion I0 formed with a slot 1i into which projects a stud 12 on a sliding member 13 (Fig. 8), which-is guided so as to move on the lower guard rail 14 of the can runway (Fig.

7); a tongue and groove connection being prefer-- .ably provided as indicated at I5 (Fig. 3).

The stud J2 extends through a slot l5 in a stationary guide" member I1 supported on the runway structure.

I The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a lost-motion connection between the slide first of the pusher 13. When the horizontal far.

member 10 has moved forward far enough so that contact is made with the stud at the right-hand end of slot ll (Fig. 8), the pusher l3 will be carried forward sufiiciently to move the cans in the feeding-out runway the distance of one cans width, pushing a can upon the receiving conveyor 25. On the return'movement of the reciprocating structure the pusher 13 remains in position back of the can being operated uponby the crimping device, and thereby aids in keeping the can in proper position during this operation, until contact is made between the horizontal member 10 and stud 12 at the left-hand end of slot 1| (Fig. 8), whereupon thepusher is retracted before the slide 41 and pusher 49 are operated to shift the can into the feeding-out runway.

Stops'oper the receiving conveyor.Arranged above the receiving conveyor 25 near the place where the feeding-out runway terminates is an angular stop member 18 pivoted at 19 to a bracket 80, a tension coiled. spring 81 being interposed betweenthe stop device and the bracket. The function of this device is to align the cans on the conveyor belt 25. It is made spring pressed so that it can yield if the cans, through accidental mal-adjustment of the apparatus are pushed too With this contingency in view a. table 82 is arranged opposite the runway. In fact the receiving conveyor is an optional feature. The

can's could be delivered'upon a'table and removed from there by hand.

Actuation of the crimping machine.- The rod 51 which actuates the transverse pusher 49 is provided with a cam block 83 which engages a cam 84 which, through movement of the link mechanism D puts the crimping machine into I feeding apparatus for the-crimping machine A g is, in substance, the same as the feeding appara- E, which is then movedby the conveyor to the; feeding mechanism for the crimping machine A tus, above described for the crimping machine A except that as the crimping machines face each other certain of the operative parts of the apparatus are in reverse position, as will be clear from the drawings. In place, however, of

the movable stop 66, the feeding apparatus for ing the can E7 in alignment with the cans in the feeding-in runway. If the apparatus were stop.

Other modifications will occur to those skilled in" the art; and it is to be understood that the intention is to cover by patent all variations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a machine for operating on cans, apparatus for feeding cans to said machine comprising: a supply conveyor; 2. runway having feeding-in and feeding-out sections offset with respect to each other at the place of operationoi' said machine on the can; and mechanism for moving cans intermittently from the feeding-in section to the feeding out section of the runway, which also moves cans from 'said conveyor into thefeedingin section of the run-' machine A has a fixed .stop 85 (Fig. 1) for arrest a way and pushes cans one againstanother through said runway.

2. In combination with a machine for operating on cans, apparatus for. feeding cans to said machine comprising: a supplyconveyor, a runway having feeding-in and feeding-out sections offset with respect to each other at the place of operation of said machine on the cans; and mechanism for moving cans intermittently from the feedingin section to the feeding-out section of the run way, which also moves cans from said conveyor into the feeding-in section of the runwayand pushes cans in' groups through said runway and which includes a pusher thatoperates directly on the group ofv cans in the feeding-out section of the'runway.

3. In combination with a machine for operating on cans, apparatus for feeding cans to said machine comprising: a supply conveyor; a runway having feeding-in and feeding-out sections offset with respect to each other at the place of operation of said machine on the cans; and mechanism for moving cans-intermttently from the feeding-in section to the feeding-out section of' having feeding-in and feeding-out sections offset with respect to each otherat the place of operation of said machine on the cans;. and mechanism for moving cans intermittently from the feeding-in section to the feeding-out section of the runway, which also moves cans from said conveyor into the feeding-in section of the runway and [pushes cans thro said runway; said mechanism being provided with a stop for arresting the forwarding'of the cans bythe conveyor while a can is being moved from the conveyor intothe feeding in runway.

5. In combination with a machine for ,operating on cans, apparatusfor feeding cans to said machine comprising: a supply conveyor; a runway having feeding-in and feeding-out sections offset with respecttdeach other at the place of operation of .said machine on the cans; and

mechanism for. moving cans intermittently from I the feeding-in section'to the. feeding-out section of the runway, which moves cans from said,

conveyor into the feeding-in section of the funpushes cans one against another through said runway, and also controls the operation of said machine.

\ 6.- Incombinationwith a machine foroperat machine comprising: a supply conveyor; 9. run way having feeding-in and feeding-out sections offset with respect to each other at the place of ing on cans, apparatus'jfonfeeding cans to said.

operation of saidmachine on the cans; mecha nism, for m'oving-cans intermittently from the feeding-in section to the feeding-out section of the runway, which moves cans from said cohveyor into the feeding-jinsection of the runway;

and pushescans in groups through said runway; and a discharge conveyor to receive the cans from the feeding-out section of the runway.

'7. In combinationwith a machine forfoperating on cans, apparatus for feeding cans to said machine comprising: asupply conveyor; a rimsection.

way having feeding-in and feeding-out sections offset with respect to each other to provide a stop at right angles to the runway for positioning the cans for'operation upon by said machine;- and mechanism which moves the cans intermittently 5 from said sto'p into line with the cans in the feeding-out runway, which moves the cans from said conveyor into the feeding-in section of the runway and which pushes the cans in groups through said runway.-

8., In apparatus for feeding cans, the combination of a continuously moving supply conveyor: a runway transversely arranged in respect thereto; a stop for arresting thecan on the conveyor which'has passed the runway, so as to position a succeeding can in line with the runway; and mechanism for pushing the last mentioned can into the runway, for releasing the other can, and for arresting the forward movement of the next can on the conveyor approaching the runway.

9. In apparatus for feeding cans, the combina tion of a runway having feeding-in and feedingout sections the inner ends of which are adjacent and offset with respect to each other; an actuating structure which reciprocates in parallelism with said runway; a pusher operated by said actuating structure for moving the cans intermittently from the inner end .of the feeding-in sec tion of the runway into alignment with the cans in the feeding-out section of the runway; a pusher for moving thecans longitudinally through the feeding-in runway; and a separate pusher on the actuating structure which isbrought' to bear upon and moves the cans in the feeding-out runway 10. In apparatus for feeding cans, the combination of a runway having feeding-in and feedingout sections the inner ends of which are adjacent and offset with respect to each other; an actuatwith said runway; a pusher operated by said actuating structure for moving the cans intermite tently from the inner end of the feeding-in section of 'the'runway into alignment with the cans ing structure which reciprocates in parallelism 40 in the feeding-out section of the runway; a pusher for moving .the cans longitudinally through the feeding-in runway; and a separate pusher having a lostmotion connection with the actuating struc-.

ture which is brought to bear upon and-moves 11. In apparatus for feeding cans, the combination of a conveyor; a runway transversely ar- 'rangedlwith respect to the conveyor; a reciprocating device which moves in parallelism with the cans in the feeding-out section of the runway.

the runway; a pusher on said device for moving cans from the conveyor into the runway; a stop 9n the pusher which extends across the conveyor during the movements. of thexpusher' to arrest the forwardmovement of the next can approachin the runway; and a stop to arrest the movement of a can on the conveyor which has passed the runway, said stop being arranged on the the forward movement of .the pusher.

- 12 In apparatus for feeding cans, the combina- Y tion of a conveyor; a runway consisting of feeding-in andfeeding-out sections offset with respect to each other; and actuating structure recip-L rocating in parallelism with the runway; a pusher on said actuating structure formovingjcans from the conveyor into 'oneend of the feeding-in section of the runway; a stop on said pusher to arrest the forward movement of the next can on the conveyor approaching the runway; and -mechanism, operated by said actuating structure for v reciprocating device so as to free said can during pushing cans from the other end of the feeding-in section of the runway into alignment with the cans in the feeding-out section.

13. In apparatus for feeding cans, the combination of a conveyor; 9; runwayconsisting of feeding-in and feeding-out sections offset with respect to each other; an actuating structure reciprocating in parallelism with the runway; a pusher on said actuating structure for moving cans from the conveyor into oneend of the feeding-in section of the runway; a stop ,on said pusher to arrest the forward movement of the next can on the conveyor approaching the runway; mechanism operated'by the actuating structure for pushing cans from the other end of the feeding-in section of the runway into alignment with the cans in the feeding-out section; and a pusher, having a lost motion connection with the actuating structure; which acts directly upon the cans in the feeding-out runway section.

14. In apparatus" for feeding cans, the combination ofa conveyor; a runway consisting'of feeding-in and feeding-out se'ction's'offset with respect to each other; an actuating structure re:

ciprocating in parallelism with the runway; a pusher on said actuating structure for moving cans from the conveyor into one end of the feeding-in section of the runway; a stop on said pusher to arrestthe forward movement of the next can on the conveyor approaching the runway; mechanism operated by the actuating device for pushing cans from the other end of the feeding in section of the runway into alignment with the cans in the feeding-out section; and a stop on the actuating structure which during the operation of said 'pusher, arrests the forward movement of a can on the conveyor which has passed the runway and is withdrawn from said can when the can ahead of it has been pushed into the rlmway." I

15. In apparatus for feeding cans, the combination of a conveyor; a runway consisting of feeding-in-and feeding-out sections offset with respect to each other; an actuating structure re-.

ciprocating in parallelism with the runway; a pusher on said actuating structure for moving cans from the conveyor into one end of the feeding-in section of the runway; a stop on said pusher to arrestthe forward movement of the next can on the conveyor approaching the runway; mechanism operated by the actuating de-' 'vice' for pushing cans from the other end of the feeding-in section of the runway into align- A ment with the cans in the feeding-out section; a

ing on cans, apparatus for feeding .the cans to said machine comprising: a continuously moving conveyor; a runway transversely arranged thereto having feeding-in and feeding-out sections the adjacent ends of which are offset at the place at whichthecan is operated upon by said machine; an actuating structure which reciprocates in parallelism with the. runway; a pusher on said structure for moving cans from the conveyor into one end of the feeding-in section of the runway; a stop on said pusher which extends across the conveyor and stops the forward movement of cans approaching the runway; mechanism operated by said actuating' structure for moving the cans intermittently from the other 'end of the feeding-in section of the runway into alignment with the cans in the -feeding-out section; and means on said actuating structure for controlling the operation of said I thereto having feeding-in and feeding-outscotions the adjacent ends of which are offset at the place at which the cans are operated upon by the machine; an actuating structure which reciprocates in parallelism with the runway; a pusher on said structure for moving cans from the conveyor into one end of the feeding-in section of the rimway; a stop on said pusher which extends across the conveyor and stops the forward movement of cans approaching the runway;

mechanism operated by said actuating structure for moving cans intermittently from the other v end of the feeding-in section of the runway into 18. In combination with a machine for operat-- ing on cans, apparatus for'feeding the cans'to said machine comprising: a continuously moving conveyor; a runway transversely arranged thereto having feeding-in and feeding-out sections the adjacent ends of which are ofiset at the place at which the cans are operated upon r by the machine; an actuating structure which reciprocates in parallelism with the-runway; a pusher on said structure for moving cans from the conveyor into one end of the feeding-in section of the runway; a stop on said pusher which extends across the conveyor and stops the forward movement of cans approaching the runway; mechanism operated by said actuating structure for moving cans intermittently from the otherend of the feeding-in section of the runway into alignment with the cans in the feeding-out section; means on said actuating structure for controlling the operation of said machine; and a conveyor for receiving cans. from the feedingout section of the runway.

GEORGE w. CHALMERS.

I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTl-ON.

Patent No. 2,029,558. p v I February 4, 1936.

--GEORGE w, cHALMERs;

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 525, for "cams" read cans; page 4, first column, line 27, claim 3, after "cans" insert the words in groups; line '29, same claim, before "cans" insert the words group of; page 5, second column, line 15, claim 16; for "other" read inner; and that the" said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to] the record of the case in the Patent Office. a j

Signed and sealed this: 10th day of March, A. n. 1935.

, Leslie Fr'aze'r (Seal) 1 Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

